The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-08-18
A NEGRO RESIDENT OF SANTA
ROSA, MEXICO HN HIS
l3Sah YEAR.

A correspondent at Laredo, Texas,
| writes as follows to the st. Louis Globe
| Democrat
James James, a negro and citizen of
the United States, who resides at Santa
Rosa, Mexico, is probably the Oldest man
on earth. He was born near Dorchester,
S. c., in 1852, and while an infant was re-
moved to Medway river, Ga, in the same
year that Franklin brought down elcc-
tricity from the thunder clounds. In
l772 there was quite an immigration
into South Carolina, and his master,
James James (from whom he takes his
name), moved near Charleston, s. c., in
company with number of his neighbors.
On June 4, 1879, when "a years Of age, a
large British fleet, under Sir Peter Parker,
arrived off Charleston. The citizens had
erected a palmetto wood fort on Sulli-
vans Island, with twenty-six guns,
manned by 500 troops, under Colonel
Moultrie, and on June 20, the British
made an attack by land and water, and
were compelled to withdraw after ten
hours conflict. 1t was during this fight
that Sergeant Jasper distinguished him
self by replacing the flag, which had
been shot away upon the bastion, on q
new staff. Jim's master, James James.
manned one Of the guns in this fight, and
the subject of this sketch and four other
slaves were employed around the fort as
general laborers. Jim followed his mas
ter throughout the war, and was with
General Moutrie at Port Royal, S. c.,
February 8, 1879, when Moultrie defeated
the combined British forces of Provost
and Campbell. His master was surren-
dered by General Lincoln at Charleston,
S. c., on February ~, 1880, to the British
forces, and that ended Jim's military ca
reer.
He remembers of the rejoicing in 1892
throughout the country in consequence of
Washinton's election to the Presidency,
he then being 40 years of age. In that
year his first master died, aged about 60
years. Jim then became the property of
Marse Henry" (IIenry James), owning
large estates and about thirty slaves,
near Charleston. On account OF having
raised 'Marso Henry" jim was special
favorite with his master aud was allowed
to do as he choose. His seconl master,
Henry, died in 1915, about 55 years OF
age, and Jim, then 63 years of age, be-
came the property Of James Games, Hen
ry's second son. In 1888 the railroad from
Charleston to Savannah was completed,
then the longest railroad in the world,
and Jim, with his master, took trip
over the road, and was shown special ia
vors on account of his age, then 81.
James James was 10 years of age at his
fathers death, and when he became of
age inherited large estates, slaves, etc,
among whom where cold Uncle Jim -
and his family. James James lived in
South Carolina until 1865, when he
moved to Texas with all his slaves.
James desired that his slaves should be
free at his death, and in 1853 moved into
Me~i~n that thoy ~i1 hn f-no b go 80
his death. James returned to the United
States and died in Texes, and in 1865,
after there were no longer slaves IN the
United States, Uncle Jim's children and
grandchildren returned to the United
States Five years ago, at the age of $50,
Jim could do light chores, but subsisted
mostly by contributions from the citizens,
but for the past two years, not being able
to walk, he remains for the most part in
his little jacal, his wants being supplied
by his generous neighbors. The rheuma-
tism in his legs prevents him from walk
ing, but yet he has sufficient strength in
his arms to drag himself short distance
fifty yards or more.